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Flaky Huckleberry Cream Cheese Danish Braid Recipe with Easy Lemon Glaze

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A buttery, flaky Danish braid filled with creamy sweetened cream cheese and fresh or frozen huckleberries, topped with a bright lemon glaze. Perfect for a crowd-pleasing breakfast or brunch treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 sheet puff pastry (about 8 ounces / 225 grams), thawed but still cold
  • 4 ounces (115 grams) cream cheese, softened (full-fat preferred)
  • 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
  • 1 cup (150 grams) fresh or frozen huckleberries, thawed and drained if frozen
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3/4 cup (90 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter (optional, for brushing braid edges)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with granulated sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.
  3. On a lightly floured surface, roll the thawed puff pastry sheet into a 12×10 inch (30×25 cm) rectangle, being careful not to stretch it too thin.
  4. Mark a 3-inch (7.5 cm) wide center strip down the length of the pastry.
  5. Spread the cream cheese filling evenly in the center strip, leaving a 1/2 inch (1 cm) border on all sides.
  6. Scatter the huckleberries evenly over the cream cheese filling.
  7. Cut 1-inch (2.5 cm) strips along both sides of the pastry, about 8 strips per side, stopping at the filling edges.
  8. Braid the pastry by folding strips alternately from each side over the filling, overlapping slightly.
  9. Brush the braid with the beaten egg wash. Optionally, brush edges with melted butter.
  10. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden brown and the filling bubbles slightly.
  11. While baking, whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice to make the lemon glaze. Adjust consistency as needed.
  12. Cool the braid on a rack for about 10 minutes before drizzling with the lemon glaze.

Notes

Keep the puff pastry cold to maintain flaky layers. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter for clean cuts. If braid edges brown too quickly, tent with foil halfway through baking. Let the braid cool before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting off. Frozen huckleberries should be thawed and drained to avoid sogginess. Variations include swapping berries, using gluten-free or dairy-free alternatives, and adding almond extract or nuts for extra flavor and texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: huckleberry, cream cheese, Danish braid, lemon glaze, puff pastry, breakfast, brunch, sweet pastry

Find it online: https://crispcraving.com/flaky-huckleberry-cream-cheese-danish-braid-recipe-with-easy-lemon-glaze/